So me and the sidekick headed over to the Eightsixty Custom Skate Shop to celebrate their grand opening. And I will be honest…it was an event. Not only is this place a skate shop, but it always has an indoor skate park. Dope right? So the first half of the day you got to see skaters of all skill levels do their thing on the ramps. The second part of the day that set up a stage and had some of the amazing local music talent grace the mic. Everyone from Maia CC to MC/Host Joey Batts. They even had a impromptu freestyle session just to keep the feeling going. Which, of course I jumped in on. Food and drinks outside and a little stand for my homie, Dewey’s “Hartford” line of gear.

Even though the rain came down, people came out to support. And that meant alot. You see the Skater crowd has always been seen as slackers who can never really do anything. Hoodlums who run around with no respect for anything. Almost exactly what they say about the Hip Hop crowd. But this…this among many others showed that both crowds could come together to accomplish something. Some may see this as just another skate shop, but I’m not that foolish.

I see EightSixty Custom for what it really is. A symbol as a local business. A sign that the kids you thought were lost, really know where they are and where they are going.

This skate shop is the sign that when not given the avenue or venue, we have what it takes to create it for ourselves.

Thank you EightSixty Custom. not for eventing me to an event, but for making me apart of a movement.

Also available are STAGE PASSESfor $50 keeping you right in front of the actionPlus the EXCLUSIVE!!! GREEN ROOM PASSES for $100which are all inclusive with discount drink prices, access to Mcs and media with full buffet…

I get a lot of emails from people from the submit box. I dont’ respond to a lot because a lot of people don’t do it right. I wanted to give an example of how people should be using the submit box and this person did so flawlessly.

Message: My name is Lorenzo Nil. I am 17 years old and I’m from Waterbury, CT. I recently released my 1st tape entitled “Nothingness” and I’m looking for feedback. I need help finding my audience with this album. Nothingness is about me finding my happiness in life. I talk about who I am as a person, the things I like, and what I go through in life. There’s 20 tracks on this tape and there’s a few features including some more talented musicians in my city. Those people are “VeeSkeeno, DJ The Superior, Youth, & Yung Scumbag”. Also my kind of rap music would be considered alternative. I also self produced every track and made the cover artwork.

I originally put the album on sound cloud so people could stream it and download it from there but there is a media fire link to.

I didn’t have to chase dude for info. He let me know who he was, what he was trying to do, and what his goal was. He let me know what he sounded like without me having to sit through any of his music. So I took the time, and listened based off of that. He’s a new artist and I see potential in him so I’m granting him a post. Check the music below.

ILL disappeared for a while, but came back stronger than ever. He looks like he’s ready to tear someone’s throat out the entire video, and really makes a case for being one of the most energetic performers I’ve ever seen. He’s gotten older, but never old, and certainly sharper over time. Full Aim also produced a ridiculous banger here. It’s a hard and heavy beat, but doesn’t come up short in terms of supplying an atmosphere that brings to mind a lot of late 80’s horror film soundtracks.

Of course, we can’t forget that Shane McLellan killed the game with his ability to edit together great footage, and really match the work of any artist he touches. Gotta love the fun cameo by fellow New-Havenite Mister, too.